Sheet metal bending tool



De c. 22, 1959 MERlON 2,917,956

SHEET METAL BENDING TOOL Filed June 5, 1958 INVENTOR. 4524/94/ 4 L. MAW/0 MMH. W

United States Patent 2,917,956 SHEET METAL BENDING TOOL Abraham L. Merion, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor of fifty percent to Frank Edes, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 5, 1958, Serial No. 740,043

'3 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) The present invention relates to a bending tool, and more particularly to a small hand tool which may be carried about in the pocket of the user and which may be used to produce a wide variety of shapes in sheet metal.

There has long been a need for a simple, durable hand tool for effecting bends in sheet metal. Thus, model makers, installation workers, and others have use for a tool which may be readily carried on the users person and which is capable of eifecting desired bends in sheet metal without recourse to a vise.

The present invention has as an object the provision of a bending tool which may be used to produce a wide variety of bends in sheet metal, wire, or the like.

The present invention has as yet another object the provision of a bending tool of small size which may be readily carried about by the user.

The present invention has as a further object the provision of a bending tool which may be held in the users hands during operation or may be clamped in a vise.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view revealing the bending tool of the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is an elevational view partly in section of the bending tool of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the bending tool of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevational w'ew of the bending tool of the present invention in which a radius block is substituted for an angle block enabling the bending tool of the present invention to form radii.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the bending tool of the present invention being used to make a shape different from that shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Referring initially to Figures 1 through 3 inclusive the bending tool of the present invention is designated generally as 10. The bending tool comprises a pair of frame screws 12 of identical construction. The frame screws 12 are each provided with a large knurled head 14, a tubular non-threaded portion 16, and a threaded end portion 18. The threaded end portions 18 of the frame screws 12 are threadably received within the retaining block 20. Thus, the retaining block 20 is provided with threaded sockets 22 which extend for the full height of the retaining block 20 at its ends.

The bending block 24 and the bending block 26 are slidably carried on the tubular non-threaded portion 16 of each of the frame screws 12. Thus, the bending block 24 is provided with the oversize openings or passageways 28 which extend for its entire height at its ends, and the bending block 26 is provided with the oversize openings or passageways 30 at its ends which extend for its entire height.

The pressure screw 32 is threadably received within the threaded opening 34 in the central portion of the retaining block 20. The pressure screw 32 is provided with a socketed head 36 which can receive the end of a wrench 38 shown in phantom line in Figure 1. The free end 40 of pressure screw 32 is blunted, permitting the facile exertion of pressure by the pressure screw 32 on the bending block 24 without damage to the pressure screw 32 or the juxtaposed face of the bending block 24.

In the illustrated construction of the bending tool of thepresent invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.the bending block 24 comprises a male member and the bending block 26 comprises a mating female member, the male member 24 having a V-shaped head which is received within the V-shaped notch in the female bending block 26.

The operation of the bending tool 10 in the form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is as follows:

The strip of sheet metal 42 which is to be bent is inserted into the central portion of the bending tool 10 intermediate the bending block 24 and the bending block 26. During such insertion the bending block 24 is raised from the bending block 26 sliding loosely on the tubular non-threaded portions 16 of the frame screws 12 a sufficient distance above the bending block 26 to permit insection of the strip of sheet metal 42. This stage of op eration is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The strip of sheet metal 42 may be pre-marked or premeasured so that the bend therein is applied at the right point. This point is placed in juxtaposition to the apex of the V of bending block 24 and the wrench 38 is then engaged with the socketed head 36 of pressure screw 32. During the bending operation, the bending tool 10 may be clamped within a vise, or may be held within the users hand. The rotation of the pressure screw 32 urges the bending block 24 towards the bending block 26 and effects the bending of the strip of sheet metal 42, as shown in Figure 3.

-In order to remove the bent strip of sheet metal 42 from the bending tool 40 the pressure screw 32 is rotated in a direction opposite to its direction of rotation that was required to effect the bending. The bending block 24 may then be raised, and the strip of sheet metal 42 withdrawn.

The bending tool of the present invention has utility for the formation of other shapes besides angular bends. It is to be noted in connection with angular bends, however, that the included angle of such bends may be varied by controlling the extent of rotation of the pressure screw 32. Thus, rotating the pressure screw 32 less than the extent needed to effect the bend shown in Figure 3 will produce an angle which comprises a larger included angle than that shown in Figure 3.

To produce radii, a bending block 44 of circular crosssection is used in place of the male bending block 24. In the construction shown in Figure 4, the female bending block 26 is juxtaposed to the pressure screw 32 and the circular cross-sectioned bending block 44 is disposed adjacent the knurled heads 14 of the frame screws 12. The bending block 44 is provided with openings or passageways 46 at its ends through which the frame screws 12 may be received.

In the construction shown in Figure 5, the bending tool is used with the female bending block 26 juxtaposed to the pressure screw 32 and the male bending block 24 juxtaposed to the knurled heads 14 of the frame screws 12. Where entirely closed configurations are made, such as the configuration into which the sheet metal strip is being bent in Figure 5, the sheet metal strip may be inserted into the bending tool 10 by unscrewing one of the frame screws 12 from its engagement with the retaining block 20 and positioning the strip of sheet metal 42 intermediate the bending blocks from the side. The released frame screw 12 may then be inserted into the retaining block 20 and the device used.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without .departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bending tool comprising a pair of similar spaced frame screws, each of said frame screws including a threaded end portion spaced from the screWs head by a tubular non-threaded portion, a retaining block threadably engaged at its ends with the threaded end portions of said screws, a plurality of juxtaposed bending blocks slidably mounted on the tubular non-threaded portions of said frame screws, and a pressure screw threadably received in said retaining block intermediate its ends and juxtaposed to one of said bending blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,020 Ritchie June 5, 1883 1,798,340 Thewes Mar. 31, 1931 2,413,547 Davidson Dec. 31, 1946 2,417,533 Wilkison Mar. 18, 1947 2,679,778 Krafit June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,977 France Feb. 22, 1922 685,384 Great Britain Jan. 7, 1953 737,185 Germany July 8, 1943 

